Passenger plane carrying 233 makes emergency landing in cornfield

16 Aug2019

The pilots of a passenger jet carrying 233 people have been called heroes after making an emergency landing in a cornfield following a bird strike during take-off.

Russian TV network RTreported on Thursday that a Ural Airlines plane leaving Moscow carrying 226 passengers and seven crew, was forced to land in a cornfield with its wheels up after suffering a bird strike.

The Ural plane, an Airbus A321, “unexpectedly” hit “numerous” birds (thought to be either seagulls or crows) that disrupted its engines shortly after departing Zhukovsky Airport, Moscow. The aircraft reportedly landed with its engines off and its landing gear up.

RT reported 76 passengers, including 19 children, received injuries during the landing, but there was no loss of life. ABC News,citing Russia’s emergency ministry, added six people had been hospitalised.